THE STRAIGHT RIGHT-SHOULDER CAST. 247 



only absolutely necessary when you are fishing 

 from beneath the right bank of a river, and have 

 behind you impediments to a right-hand sweep of 

 your rod and line. If the right bank be flat or 

 shelving if it be clear of obstructions I can 

 see no material objection to right-shoulder casting 

 from off it. 



The straight right-shoulder cast is done thus : 

 the right hand holds the rod above the winch, the 

 left below it ; the right side is next the river, and, 

 of course, the right foot is foremost. You bring 

 your rod and line boldly and freely in a fine, easy, 

 wide, semicircular sweep over your right shoulder, 

 and then you send them forwards by communi- 

 cating to the right fore-arm sharp action, as if 

 you were going to hit something elevated before 

 you with the soft part of your closed hand, on the 

 little finger side. If all this compound action 

 bringing back the rod and line over the right 

 shoulder, and then sharply sending them forward 

 be performed dashingly and energetically, with- 

 out nervousness, stint of sweep, and strength, 

 your fly will be sent straight away to its destina- 

 tion, similarly to, but not so swiftly as, an arrow 

 shot from above at an object sitting beneath you 

 on the water, at a distance of five-and- twenty or 

 thirty yards. The straight casts, whether from the 

 left or right shoulder, are, generally speaking, the 

 best. At any rate, executed by a proficient, they 



